Arab film Festival Attracts The ‘Brad Pitt Of Palestine’ Saleh Bakri To Sydney
Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri is sometimes dubbed the Brad Pitt of Palestine.
He was also once voted the “sexiest man” of the year by Israeli women’s magazine Motek – a title he says he doesn’t take too seriously.
Now Australia has been introduced to the popular Middle Eastern actor who is in Sydney as a guest of the Arab Film Festival to promote the movie When I Saw You, in which he plays Layth, the freedom fighter.
As the son of well-known actor and film director Mohammed Bakri, the 37-year-old has acting in his genes.
“The most important thing for me is not to be lost in fame,” he said.
“I experienced my father’s fame so I had already had my ideas and thoughts about fame and how it affects people.”
Bakri was born in the Arab town of Bi’ina in the North District of Israel in 1977.
In 2000 he took up acting but it was challenging, given the expectations of his father and family.
“I believe I was determined to [embrace] the challenge,” he said.
“It’s not a challenge that kind of affects my relationship with my father or my brothers negatively. It’s a good, healthy, positive challenge.”
His two brothers are also up-and-coming actors.
Bakri has played pivital roles in other films.
In 2007, he starred as a trumpet player named Khaled in The Band’s Visit, a story about an Egyptian police band that arrives in Israel to perform at the Arab Arts Cultural Centre, only to find themselves in the wrong town.
Then in 213, he played a mafia hitman in the Italian drama Salvo.
Film reflects Palestinian plight, says Bakri
The film, When I Saw You, tells the story of 11-year-old Tarek and his mother in a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan in 1967.
Struggling to adjust to life in the Harir camp and longing to be reunited with his father, Tarek leaves the camp in search of a way out.
On his journey he meets Fadeeyah Layth (Saleh Bakri) and discovers new hope with the freedom fighters.
The film has won several awards including Best Asian Film at the Berlin International Film Festival and Best Arab Film at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival.
It was also Palestine’s 2013 Oscar Entry for Foreign Language Film.
“This kid was forced to leave in 1967 from his home in Palestine…all he wants is to go back to his home and to be with his father,” said Bakri.
“The film follows him from the refugee camp in Jordan until he runs back home.”
The actor said Tarek finds solace in his character Layth because they both long to return back to Palestine.
“I like Layth because he is determined to resist and fight injustice,” he said.
“He has hope to come back to Palestine his home.”
Bakri said the challenging aspect of his role was playing alongside a child.
“We always learned in the school of drama to keep the child alive,” he said.
“It was a challenge to relive my inner child and keep it alive in front of this child [Tarek]. So you have to be very honest.”
“Standing in front of this child, Tarek was a reminder not to forget the essence of acting.”
Bakri said Tarek’s refugee situation in the film is a symbol of the plight of so many Palestinians today in light of the recent Israel-Gaza conflict.
“To speak about a child who wants to go back to his home is to speak about this main tragedy of us [Palestinians] being not allowed to live a normal life,” he said.
“It is connected to the massacre that happened in Gaza lately because most of the Gaza people are refugees.”
Bakri said many films from Palestine reflect the people’s social and political situation.
“Most of the films are speaking and coming out of our experience, reality and community,” he said.
“It is very related to our political situation because the society is very affected by politics, by occupation and living under siege.
“I dream of the day that I can do a love story with no mention of all kinds of injustice.”
Bakri said he has high hopes for young Palestinians after taking a year off acting to teach drama to young students from Ramallah.
“They were very talented, full of energy and full of rich imagination,” he said.
*Festival aims to connect Australia to Arab world*
Festival director Mouna Zaylah said the films offer viewers a connection to Arab societies.
“It does provide a connection really between Australia and the Arab world,” she said.
“The stories in these films are very rarely reflected on Australian screens.”
She said the films reflect the social and political flux taking place in the Arab world.
“The films give a real insight into their [Arabs] struggles and their fight for freedom but there are also stories of love, relationships and family.”
Many festival-goers said they were looking forward to the diversity of films this year.
“I love seeing films from all across Arab countries and I find them highly entertaining,” one said.
“It’s a good way of educating non-Arabs for those who want to learn more about the Middle East,” said Hassan.
“I think I feel I need to discover my roots…and find out more about the Middle East,” said Lebanese-Australian Caroline.
The Arab Film Festival in Sydney opened on Thursday and runs until Sunday at the Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, before heading to Melbourne and Canberra.
Yahoo News
MOHAMED TAHA